86 A HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHPORT. 



Common Bur-reed (Sparganium ramosuni). 



Sedges (Carex). The species found wild about Southport 



wait discrimination. 

 Common Horn-wort (Ceratophylluni). 

 Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum}. 

 Cinnamon-rush (Acorus Calamus], 

 Frog-bit (Hydrocharis Morsus-ranoe). 



FERNS AND FERN-ALLIES. 



The neighbourhood of Southport, it hardly needs the 

 saying, is not one which can be expected to be favourable to 

 an abundance of native ferns. Ferns are plants which in most 

 cases love moist and shady woods, or calcareous cliffs, or, as 

 happens with the sub-maritime species, rocks like those of North 

 Devon. Habitats such as these are not compatible with the 

 sandy flats of the sea-margin of Lancashire, though at a few 

 miles distance inland, it is not difficult to discover groves 

 where the larger kinds of ferns, at least, have a congenial abode. 

 The beautiful, not to say romantic dell, or ravine, at 

 Gathurst, called Dean-wood, teems with the graceful forms 

 of the shield-ferns, in several kinds. The deep cuttings 

 upon the borders of the moss, especially towards Halsall 

 and Scarisbrick, likewise afford a plentiful display ; while 

 towards Crossens, and thereabouts, the hedgebanks also con- 

 tribute. The following are the species which have been 

 observed : 



Common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare). 

 Common Shield-fern (Lastrea- Filix-mas). 

 Broad-leaved Sylvan Shield-fern (Lastrea dilatatd). The 

 most plentiful of the South and West Lancashire ferns. 



